Clarence Edward Feeney (94) of Springfield, Missouri, passed away from this life Friday, January 26th, 2024. Clarence was born to Johnny and Nettie (Pozniak) Feeney on February 13th, 1929, near Purdy, Missouri.

Clarence graduated as valedictorian of Wheaton High School in 1946 where he played on the varsity basketball team and infamously read every book available in the small school library. Following graduation, he served the nation in the Army during the winddown at the conclusion of WW2, being honorably discharged in the spring of 1948. Upon his return, he met and married Ola Jean Green of Monett, Missouri. They married in Monett on July 10th, 1951. Clarence is most widely known for his over four decades of work as a preacher of the gospel for congregations of the Church of Christ throughout Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and California. Locally, he served as full-time pulpit minister at congregations in Sparta, Oldfield, Strafford, and Springfield. Brother Feeney, as he was often affectionately called, presided over hundreds of area weddings and funerals for friends and loved ones.

Clarence is remembered by friends and family for his sharp wit and spirited sense of humor enjoyed by everyone while aimed at others. He loved his family, regularly balancing the rigid disciplined expectations of a minister’s family with the affection of a humble Ozarks farmer toward his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed working on his small farm just north of Springfield where he raised beef cattle and kept a small vegetable garden. Always possessing a student’s heart, he continuously had a to-be read pile of books at arm’s length; a crossword puzzle book was always a sure-to-please Christmas gift.

Clarence loved planting, nurturing, and even cross breeding the plants and flowers he used to transform his small farm into his own personal “Garden of Eden.” He and his wife, Ola Jean, completed the Master Gardner certification from the University of Missouri’s extension office after a lifetime of planting one of the area’s largest private nurseries. There he planted every plant and flower that could survive an Ozarks winter and then some; he tried for years to grow bananas but to no avail (He blamed the weather, insisting the lack of bananas had nothing to do with his gardening skills). A complimentary hobby to his ever-darkening green-thumb, he was an avid beekeeper, serving at one point as President of the Ozarks Beekeeping Association. Beyond these reminiscences, Clarence will be remembered as a rabid Saint Louis Cardinals and Missouri State University Lady Bears fan, a teller of tales, a proud Pollock, a lighthearted trickster, and a caring role model for everyone his time touched throughout his nearly 95 years on this earth.

Clarence is preceded in death by his father, Johnny, mother, Nettie, his sister Rose Ann, his daughter,Bonita, and two grandchildren. He is survived by his spouse of 72 years, Ola Jean, children Linda, Jon, and Deanna. He also leaves behind a large family consisting of seven (7) grandchildren, nine (9) greatgrandchildren, five (5) great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Funeral services are set for 2 pm Monday, February 5th at Water Mill Church of Christ located at 3020 N. Barnes Ave in Springfield. A short visitation will precede the formal service with a private graveside service to follow at Greenlawn Memorial Gardens. Flowers and condolences may be sent to Greenlawn Funeral Home North.